Program Overview
Two formats — a fast 13-month full-time track and an 18-month track built so students can keep working part-time — paired with a Trinity Health System pipeline into nursing employment.
Mount Carmel College of Nursing’s Second Degree Accelerated Program (SDAP) gives career changers two ways in. The SDAP-13 compresses the traditional BSN into 13 months of full-time study, starting the first Monday in January across three consecutive terms; because it runs at about 40 hours a week, students are strongly advised not to work.
The SDAP-18 stretches the same program over 18 months and four part-time terms, beginning in August, specifically so busy adults can maintain part-time employment. Both formats blend online and on-campus coursework, with in-person labs and clinicals that may meet on evenings or weekends.
As part of the Trinity Health System, MCCN offers a seamless path from the classroom into nursing practice, and the program posts a strong 91.02% five-year average NCLEX-RN pass rate (2023).
Cohorts run 60-70 students.
Accreditation and Outcomes
The baccalaureate nursing program at Mount Carmel College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN, administered through the Ohio Board of Nursing. The program reports a 91.02% five-year average first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate (2023) and emphasizes both theoretical and practical knowledge through skills labs and clinical experiences.
Admissions
Admission requires a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a recommended minimum 3.0 GPA, with all prerequisites finished before starting.
Each prerequisite must be completed with a grade of C or better (a C− is not accepted).
The program is competitive and accepts 60-70 students per cohort on a rolling basis, with January (SDAP-13) and August (SDAP-18) starts.
Prerequisite Courses
English Composition
Develops skills in structuring effective, well-organized papers. Covers literature review, documentation, argument structure, and professional writing techniques.
General Psychology
Introduces the scientific study of human thought, emotion, and behavior from biological, developmental, social, and behavioral perspectives, emphasizing critical thinking and analysis.
Human Anatomy & Physiology I & II
Explores the structure and function of the human body, focusing on maintenance systems, life cycles, and chemical regulation. Includes laboratory work with dissections and physiological experiments.
Human Growth & Development
Examines human development from conception to death, focusing on biological, cognitive, and social changes, along with developmental theories and life-span research.
Microbiology
Introduces fundamental microbiology concepts, with a focus on microorganisms and their role in disease processes.
Organic Biochemistry
Covers organic chemistry and biochemistry principles, emphasizing biomolecules, metabolism, enzyme reactions, and cellular processes.
Curriculum
The curriculum includes 84 credit hours covering medical-surgical nursing, psychiatric mental health nursing, community health, leadership, and a capstone, taught in a blended and fully online format with in-person labs and clinicals.
NURS 205: Foundations of Caring Health Practices
Introduces holistic health interventions, client education, and caring practices in various healthcare settings, emphasizing patient-centered care.
NURSING 206: Pharmacological Foundations of Caring Health Practices
Covers essential pharmacological concepts, including drug classifications, nursing management, and patient education for safe medication administration.
NURSING 204
Focuses on holistic health assessments across the lifespan, incorporating cultural, developmental, nutritional, psychosocial, and spiritual dimensions in nursing care.
NURSING 307: Caring Health Practices for the Developing Family (8 weeks)
Applies the nursing process to reproductive health, providing care for women and families through all stages of life in diverse healthcare settings.
NURSING 308: Caring Health Practices for Mental Health (8 weeks)
Explores mental health nursing interventions for individuals and families across the lifespan, incorporating primary, secondary, and tertiary care strategies.
HUMANITIES 320: Ethical & Moral Issues
Examines ethical theories and moral dilemmas in healthcare, focusing on decision-making frameworks and real-world applications.
NURSING 361: Nursing Research
Introduces the research process and evidence-based practice, emphasizing the evaluation and application of scientific findings in nursing care.
NURSING 309: Caring Health Practices for the Adult I
Covers evidence-based nursing management of adults experiencing alterations in key physiological functions, using the nursing process as a framework.
HEALTH 320: Health Statistics
Introduces statistical methods for healthcare research and epidemiology, focusing on data analysis and its impact on public health.
HLTH 202: Cultural Competence in Health Care
Explores healthcare disparities, cultural competency, and advocacy skills to improve health outcomes for diverse populations.
NURSING 405: Caring Health Practices for the Adult II (8 weeks)
Focuses on crisis intervention and advanced technologies in nursing care for individuals, families, and communities experiencing biological crises.
NURSING 406: Caring Health Practices for the Older Adult (8 weeks)
Examines nursing care for aging populations, addressing common geriatric health issues and holistic interventions in varied healthcare settings.
NURSING 421: Caring Health Perspectives in Community Health Nursing
Uses a population-focused approach to community health, examining public health principles and factors influencing community well-being.
NURSING 422: Advanced Dynamics in Nursing Concepts
Enhances clinical reasoning and judgment skills, preparing students for complex patient-care decision-making at the baccalaureate level.
NURSING 3450/1: ATI Review
Provides structured NCLEX-RN preparation, focusing on content review, test-taking strategies, and clinical problem-solving skills.
NURSING 407: Caring Health Practices for the Child & Family
Applies nursing interventions to pediatric care, emphasizing children’s health issues within family and community contexts.
NURSING 408: Caring Practices in Transition to the Professional Role
Prepares students for professional nursing roles through clinical experiences and a hybrid learning approach.
HEALTH 416: Health Care Systems Policy & Economics
Examines healthcare delivery systems, policy, legal regulations, and economic influences shaping healthcare professions.
NURS 3528: Capstone
A final-semester seminar refining clinical problem-solving, test-taking skills, and NCLEX-RN preparation, integrating biological and social sciences.
NURSING SEMINAR 35xx
Students select a specialized seminar to explore focused topics in nursing practice, leadership, or healthcare innovation.
More curriculum detail is available in the Mount Carmel course catalog.
Learning Experience
Students engage in a rigorous schedule of classes, labs, and clinical experiences totaling about 40 hours per week in the SDAP-13. The SDAP-18 spreads the same coursework over a longer timeline, with the majority of campus-based obligations scheduled in the evening or on weekends so part-time work remains feasible.
Tuition
Tuition is billed at $670 per credit hour, so the 84-credit program runs approximately $56,280 (2024-25 rate) for either the SDAP-13 or SDAP-18, plus a non-refundable $30 application fee. Additional costs include lab fees, uniforms and equipment (stethoscope, lab coat, blood pressure cuff, and other tools), books and supplies, health insurance if not otherwise covered, and possible clinical fees.
Confirm the current per-credit rate directly, as published figures change annually.
See the official tuition and fees page for details.
Online and On-Campus Components
Much of the coursework is delivered online, but students must complete in-person labs and clinicals. The blended format mixes flexible online learning with hands-on practical training, with the SDAP-18 weighting more obligations toward evenings and weekends to accommodate working students.